Joker: "Sooo, Skies is too busy crying over the fact that she's not at San Diego Comic Con and something about her heart breaking over not seeing some guy called Tom Hiddleston. She's currently curled up in a little ball, sobbing, and is not paying attention to her laptop. And when she's not paying attention to her laptop…. Hee hee hee. I have my fun."

Skies: "Joker! Get away from my laptop!"

Joker: "Gnaaah! Go back to crying over that Brit!"

Skies: "Relinquish the laptop, NOW!"
*massive struggle ensues with Skies as the winner*
Skies: "Ha ha!"

(Okay dear Readers, I don't want to sound like I'm complaining or anything but I've been receiving a lot of comments questioning why Samantha wears her wedding ring and why she doesn't get the marriage annulled. It has already been stated in past chapters that she can'tget an annulment or a divorce. One: the Joker will never sign any papers. Two: no judge or any other official with the authority to do so will help her because they are terrified of the Joker's wrath. Now, about the wedding ring. Samantha wears the ring because in her mind she is married and she tells herself it's the honest thing to do. But in the next chapter we're going to find out the True Reason why she keeps that ring on her finger. Not this chapter, but the next one!
Another note I wanted to bring up; I appreciate constructive criticism, I mean, I know my writing is not perfect, but I do not tolerate rude remarks or arrogance. If you only review to point out how dumb something in my story is and proceed to insult my writing then stop reading my story and leave me alone. However, if you want to point out something to me that you think I may not have noticed like for example; an inconsistency or something that confuses you, then please do it respectfully and with class- no swearing. Do not blatantly shoe it in my face and be all, "This is stupid! It makes no sense! This is poor writing! Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah!" Not only does it make me want to say some nasty things to you, it also makes you sound incredibly immature and brings to mind a bratty fifteen year old [no offence to any fifteen year olds who may be reading this, I was that age too].

Now, thankfully, I have not had that many bad reviews. I just want to put this out there to prevent any further unneeded reviews.)

Joker: "…. Wait, someone said your writing skills were stupid?"

Skies: "So glad you caught up with the conversation."

Joker: "Who was it? I'll give them something to smile about."

Skies: "Joker, stop threatening my readers."

Chapter Nine

September 10th, 2010
2:30 pm

"Let me get this straight, Mr. Wayne. You're willing to donate substantial amounts of money to Arkham Asylum-."

"For improving its security and any other programs needed to help the patients," Bruce cut in, flashing Alyce Sinner a winning smile.

Miss Alyce Sinner, formerly the new Assistant Director of Arkham Asylum, was now the Head and Director. She gave Bruce a patient smile and tucked an escaped strand of black hair behind her ear. Despite the numerous times Bruce, as Batman, had dumped an escaped patient on the asylum's doorstep, he had never gotten a good look at Miss Sinner. He'd caught brief glimpses of her before vanishing into the night and up until now he'd had it in his head that Alyce Sinner had red hair. Now, sitting a table across from her, Bruce could see why he was mistaken. Most of her hair was divided into seven locks with long red ribbons wrapped around them. When she had been interviewed for the assistant director position, the subject of her hair style had come up. She was asked if there would be a problem with styling her hair in a more professional manner; her reply was, "its religious reasons that I keep my hair like this." Bruce couldn't recall any religion that required a woman's hair to be wrapped in red ribbons.

"As I was saying, you will make donations to help better the asylum in the exchange that you are kept informed of the progress made in the asylum."

"Not just progress, Miss Sinner," Lucius Fox interjected. Bruce had brought him along to the meeting since he was better and more experienced at handling the finances of Wayne Enterprise. This was precisely why the older man was his CEO and Senior Vice President of Finance.

Bruce leaned forward in his seat, interweaving his fingers and resting his joined hands on the table. "I want to be kept in the loop of anything and everything involving this asylum. I mean, I have a right to know, don't I, since I'm becoming a major contributor here."

Miss Sinner's smile did not reach her dark brown eyes. "Yes, of course."

Bruce gave the table top a light slap to emphasize his words. "Great!" I'm glad to be a part of this institute." Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Lucius pinch the bridge of his nose and squeeze his eyes shut for a brief moment. Maybe he was laying on the clueless, playboy billionaire act a little too thickly when it came to the true situation of Arkham Asylum.

"I am curious, Mr. Wayne. When Dr. Arkham was still in charge, records show that he sent requests to you- and a few other wealthy companies- to consider donating. He sent more than one request and you turned down each one. Why do you offer now?"

Bruce noted how easily Miss Sinner spoke of Jeremiah Arkham's former authority as if he had been committed to his own asylum years ago. Oh yes, Jeremiah had been committed. After waking up to find himself in the same cell as Jonathan Crane-also known as the Scarecrow-and realizing he was losing everything, Dr. Arkham snapped. It wasn't long before his criminal acts were discovered; combining his crimes and his new found insanity landed him a cell in Arkham Asylum.

Bruce surfaced from his thoughts and came up with an answer that was honest yet did not reveal his entire reasoning. "There are two men currently being kept here that were involved in terrorizing a friend of mine a little over a year ago; Samantha Reads. I want to do everything I can to ensure her safety and if that means paying the asylum to make sure those men stay locked up, then I'll do it."

Sinner searched his eyes with her own, trying to read him, and failing. "It is true that our security precautions and technologies are less than top notch. We've had to rely on guards, locks, and passcodes but with glitches thrown in at the most inopportune times. Your donations will be a great help to us, Mr. Wayne. On behalf of Arkham's staff, I thank you." She stood up, extending her hand out to shake Fox and Wayne's. The meeting was over.

As Lucius and Bruce were shown the way out of Arkham Asylum, Bruce's phone beeped at him. The billionaire grinned but made no comment as he switched off the alarm. Lucius noticed his smile. "Something amusing, Mr. Wayne?"

"Wait til we're in the car," Bruce answered mysteriously. Once inside the vehicle, both men sat in the back and the driver was told to head to Wayne Enterprise. "Remember the package you gave Alice Fredricks earlier this morning?"

"Yes. It was meant for Samantha Reads, wasn't it?"

"Yeah." Bruce reached a hand into his suit's inner breast pocket and brought out a small hand held walkie-talkie. "Well, Samantha's gift just arrived at her apartment and if I timed it just right- Miss Fredricks should be there too." He switched on the talkie and waited. Less than five minutes later a confused voice could be heard coming from the device.

"Uh…hello?"

Bruce grinned at Lucius and pressed the talk button. "This is Rich Boy calling Pretty Woman, come in Pretty Woman, over." Lucius chuckled and settled back in his seat to watch and listen.

"Bruce!"

"Who's Bruce? This is Rich Boy; over." Bruce's grin remained playful as he waited for Samantha's response.

"Alright, Rich Boy. This is Pretty Woman; over."

"Pretty Woman, go look out your window for the second part of your birthday gift; over."

"Why; what is it?"

"Rich Boy over and out."

He turned off the talkie just as Samantha began to say his name. "Bru-?" He put the radio back in his pocket, still grinning.

Lucius shook his head in amusement. "What did you get her?"

"A mustang."

"Really?" Lucius said in surprise. He pursed his lips and nodded in a way to show he was impressed.

"I don't want to always be worrying about the identity of every cabman who drives her home. This way, we both won't worry."

Lucius nodded again to show he understood. He knew why Bruce felt the need to protect Samantha. Since the death of Rachel Dawes, Bruce had changed. Well, the Bruce that Lucius and Alfred knew; the Bruce Wayne that the public knew remained frivolous and kept up his playboy image. But Lucius and Alfred knew that his heart had been broken. The thing that seemed to save him was his friendship with Samantha. Friendship, not a relationship. He wasn't seeking to replace Rachel, but he needed someone to be a true friend and he'd found it in her. Both had their shares of tragedy and they understood each other.

"Have you thought of telling her?" Lucius asked.

Bruce swallowed, his grin slowly leaving. "I have, but… Lucius, she just can't handle that right now. She's still trying to deal with the pain of losing Nigma and discovering he wasn't who he said he was. I can't put her through that again. Not yet. She needs to believe that there's someone in her life that is who they say they are. Just for a little bit longer."

Lucius turned to stare out the window at the passing scenery. "The strength in that woman never ceases to amaze me."

Bruce let out a breathless chuckle. "You and me both, Lucius."

…

5:00 pm

Arkham Asylum

Edward was a little annoyed. A bit miffed, quite honestly. He had finished the puzzle but there was a problem. A piece was missing. One. Stupid. Little. Piece.

He made a remark about it to Joe when he was brought into the rec. room and Joe had laughed. "Youuu still spaz when a puzzle is unfinished. That's good. It means those docs haven't changed you com-plete-ly." Little did Edward know that 'Joe' was holding the missing piece hostage.

"You know, Eddie… I was thinking abouuut-ah…what I said yesterday. You know, about the escape plan…"

Edward stiffened. He glanced around at the staff members in the room to make sure their conversation wouldn't be overheard. "What about it?" he asked, not looking at Joe.

The Joker put his elbows on the table and leaned forward, fixing his gaze on Nigma. "There's no other way, Eddie. There's no other way to escape this Hell hole."

"There's got to be."

"No dice, Ed."

Edward pinched the bridge of his nose as he squeezed his eyes shut. "Joe, please, think about this. Besides the two of us, the people in here are actually criminally insane! Do you really want to unleash these people into the city?"

Oh, more than anything!

"I've seen what some of these people are like when they get unhinged, Joe," Edward hissed. "I can't do it."

The stage is all yours…

The Joker/ Joe lowered his voice and looked Edward in the eyes. Dark brown gazing into golden brown. "Eddie… it'sss the on-ly way. You are the one that the attention is focused on in this asylum; you and me. You see, nothing-no other, uh, distractions will be big enough to shift the attention off of you and I. And despite what you think, there are others like us in here."

Nigma's head tilted to the side ever so slightly, a dead giveaway that the Joker's words had hooked him. "What?"

"I found-ah a few other people who-like us- stepped on the wrong toes and were sent here."

"Who?" Edward asked urgently.

"Just a few, but they won't be able to escape either if we don't go through with my idea."

"…How many?"

"Two…and they've been stuck here longer than you have." He watched Nigma's tense shoulders sag. His resistance to the idea was slowly slipping.

"Do they… do they know about the plan?"

"Idea," the Joker almost corrected but didn't. "Well I had to bring it up when we considered other options of escap-ah," he said, popping his 'p'. "They don't like the idea either, but they know it's our only shot. They're ready to get out."

Edward ran a hand over his weary face and cast a brief glance over the puzzle that was still missing one piece. "How did it come to this?" he whispered to himself, covering his face with both his hands while propping both elbows on the table. He let out a long, drained sigh.

"Eddie."

Edward reluctantly turned his head to look at Joe, using his now linked hands to support his chin.

"A plan is like a puzzle." He really didn't like to admit to calling it a plan but for now it'd have to do. "It takes all kinds of pieces to bring it aaall together. You see, Eddie, I've got all the pieces of the 'puzzle' put together, except one. And that's aaall it takes to. Mess. It. Up. Without that piece, the picture is incomplete and won't work; but-ah when they're all put togetheeer…the effect is complete."

The Joker slowly opened his hand and revealed a green puzzle piece resting in his palm. Edward's eyes widened.

"You're that final piece, Eddie. Without you the, uh, the 'puzzle' won't work out."

Nigma slowly reached out and took the piece from Joe. Conflicting emotions were evident on the man's features. His golden brown eyes flicked from the piece to the empty space in the puzzle then to Joe.

"Answer me this…." Edward's voice murmured. "Who is Samantha to me?"

Oh, so close! Sooooooo close to tearing Nigma's throat out of him! If he didn't stop asking about his Samantha….

'Joe' sighed reluctantly. "You fell for her, didn't you?" he asked, sadly; very convincingly.

"Yes. But she's someone else's wife. At least that's what she's told me, but Joe, the feeling I get about her when she's around…" Edward's eyes drifted away from the Joker and stared off as his mind was filled with mages of Samantha.

The tightly clenched fists of 'Joe Payaso' went completely unnoticed by Nigma; as was the dark, murderous look in his black eyes. He forced himself to look the part of the remorseful friend as he placed a hand on Edward's shoulder and not around his scrawny neck. "Eddie… Samantha Reads is the girl they hired to make sure you don't remember anything. She's their spy."

The change that came over Edward's face made the Joker nearly break character and howl with laughter. Hurt and betrayal were heavy in his eyes.

"No….that's just not true-no!" He slammed a fist down onto the table. "No!"

The Joker quickly looked around and grabbed Edward's arm to stop him from drawing any further attention to their clandestine discussion. "Ed, calm down!" he hissed in a low tone.

Edward was surprisingly able to keep his anger inaudible; the only tell-tale signs of his rage were physical. His hands were gripping the edge of the table so hard that the Joker thought the bit Nigma was holding on to would break off any moment. After a moment of tense silence, Edward's voice spoke in an unsteady whisper. "You're sure about this?" His tone warned 'Joe' to be certain. That if this turned out to be a joke, there would be Hell to pay.

It was so delicious to watch!

The Joker moistened his lips to cover the slight upward twitch of his mouth. "I'm certain."

It was quiet for a brief five seconds. Edward's right hand trembled as he reached over the table and pressed the missing piece into the blank space of the puzzle. It fit perfectly. "I'm in. Just tell me what I need to do."

"Now we're getting somewhere."

They couldn't talk much longer together, not without the guards or orderlies getting suspicious, so they had to just discuss the main details. Joe promised to talk to him again in the morning about their ticket out of the asylum, and went to tell the good news to the other two 'unfortunate victims'. The first member was setting up the chess board when the Joker plopped down in the empty chair I front of him.

"Oh Craney Boy, have I got some juicy news for you and Miss Poison Ivy. It might take two rounds of chess to tell ya. But I first have to ask you a question… can you get your hands on that Fear Toxin of yours, hm?"

For the first time, the Joker saw Jonathan Crane smile. It happened very slowly and it wasn't a teeth showing smile, just a closed lipped, creepy one that would have freaked out anybody else. "I think I can manage something," Crane answered.

The Joker's mouth pulled up into a wide grin and he let out a snicker. "Greeeeat."

…

(Now, I'm sorry about my looong almost rating note at the beginning of this chapter but it was something I had to get off my chest. I'd like your help in another little matter, dear Readers! I want to write another fan-fic! I've posted a Poll on my page for you to vote which fandom I should write a fan-fic on. Options:
1). The Hobbit; where I will be writing as Smaug, who can shape shift into human form -modeled after the handsomely adorkable Benedict Cumberbatch- and it will also take place several centuries after all events in LOTR. It's like how he deals with living in modern times and how he must hide his true form from mortals. Until someone sees him changing shape… Better than it sounds.

2). A Sherlock BBC fan-fic; I was disappointed in the fact that Wiggins, the leader of the Baker Street Irregulars, was not included in the show, so I decided to come up with a story of my own for the loveable character. Wiggins will be homeless and will be incorporated into the storyline starting from the ending of The Great Game. Except in this story Wiggins is older and … a woman. Hey, they made Irene Alder a Brit instead of an American, I think I can take some liberties too!

3). A Rise of the Guardians fic; where Pitch Black, now weak from his defeat, must find the child who's nightmares had provided him enough strength to rise up against the Guardians and were so potent that they could restore his powers almost to full strength. Problem is, he stopped using that child's nightmares once his strength was regained and went on his own to plot against the Guardians. It's been nearly ten years since he last saw her and she's changed from child to woman. And she does not want to have another one of his nightmares. It's better than it sounds, trust me, I just can't reveal too much.

4). Or should I work some more on my Once Upon A Time fan-fic, Out of These Waters?

OR, is there another fandom that you really want me to try my hand at? I'm open to other options. It's just that I've already got two or three chapters already written for the ones I just mentioned, but please vote or Private Message me if there's a different fandom you want to suggest. I await to hear from you in votes, suggestions, or reviews!)